BAGHDAD, Nov 12 (Reuters) – A coalition led by Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani came first in Iraq’s parliamentary election, two electoral commission officials with knowledge of the results told Reuters on Wednesday.
Sudani was seeking a second term in Tuesday’s election but many disillusioned young voters saw the vote simply as a vehicle for established parties to divide up Iraq’s oil wealth.
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However Sudani tried to cast himself as the leader who could finally make Iraq a success after years of instability, arguing he had moved against established parties that brought him to power.
No party is able to form a government on its own in Iraq’s 329-member legislature, and so parties have to build alliances with other groups to become an administration, a fraught process that often takes many months.
The final total turnout in Iraq’s parliamentary election reached 56.11%, the electoral commission said earlier on Wednesday.
Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed and Muayad Hameed, Writing by Ahmed Elimam; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell
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